• Home
• Stamp Atlas
• Madagascar

Madagascar's postal system has been influenced by French colonial rule and independence. The country’s first stamps were issued by the French authorities before Madagascar gained full postal independence. Over the years, Madagascar’s stamps have featured various names, reflecting political changes from a French colony to an independent republic.

Stamps Through the Years

• 1889: First postage stamps issued by the French colonial administration, inscribed "COLONIES POSTES" and later "MADAGASCAR ET DÉPENDANCES." At this time, the Merina Kingdom still ruled much of the island.
• 1958: Madagascar became an autonomous republic within the French Community; stamps now read "RÉPUBLIQUE MALGACHE." (Malagasy Republic)
• 1960: Madagascar gained full independence, and stamps continued with "RÉPUBLIQUE MALGACHE."
• 1976: Following political changes, stamps were updated to "REPOBLIKA DEMOKRATIKA MALAGASY" to reflect the Democratic Republic of Madagascar.
• 1993: With constitutional reforms and the move toward a democratic system, the country’s name on stamps was updated to "République de Madagascar." Soon after, the modern Malagasy spelling "REPOBLIKAN’I MADAGASIKARA" began to appear, and it is still in use today.

Did You Know?

• Some of its early colonial-era stamps were overprinted with "MAJUNGA" or "DIEGO SUAREZ," the names of key ports.
• In the Malagasy language, the island is called Madagasikara, and before French colonization, it was home to independent kingdoms such as Merina, Sakalava, and Betsimisaraka.
• Madagascar is the world’s leading producer of natural vanilla, supplying around 70–80% of the world’s vanilla in some years.

A selection of Madagascar stamps.

Issued in 1993: Shark Series - 10 franc, Tiger Shark (Galeocerdo cuvieri)

Issued in 1993: Shark Series - 140 franc, Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus)

Issued in 1993: Shark Series - 600 franc, Oceanic Whitetip Shark (Carcharhinus longimanus)

Issued in 1993: Shark Series - 1200 franc, Zebra Shark (Stegostoma tigrinum)